Knife sets vary in price a lot. We have low-quality Chinese sets for $40 as well as German or Japanese sets for over $1000. The price is usually the best indicator of quality, and if you want to get a set that will last you a few years, you need to get a quality one.
Good quality knife sets start to appear at around the $150 to $300 price range, and that’s what we’ll be reviewing in this article. We’ve made a list of the 6 best kitchen knife sets under $300 that are made of high-quality materials, durable, and super sharp.
Along with the list, we’ve included a guide that will help you better understand what we based our choices on and help you pick the best knife set under $300 for you!
Last update on 2024-12-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Best Kitchen Knife Set Under 300 – Reviews
- Victorinox Swiss Classic 18-piece Knife Block Set
- J.A. Henckels International 19-piece Knife Set
- Cangshan S1 Series 1022575 German Steel Forged 8-Piece Knife Block Set
- imarku 16-Piece Professional Kitchen Knife Set with Block
- HENCKELS J.A International Graphite 20-pc Self-Sharpening Block Set
- Cutluxe 8-Piece Knife Block Set
- Kitchen Knife Set Under $300 – Guide
- Wrap Up
We’ve started our research with more than 60 knife sets that were under 300usd. The list got shorter and shorter, and we were left with 6 winners that are the best knife sets under 300. They passed all our strict standards and are the highest-grade knife sets you can find in the price range.
Best Kitchen Knife Set Under 300 – Reviews
Our Pick
Victorinox Swiss Classic 18-piece Knife Block Set
Victorinox is a Swiss company that produces excellent cutlery with a very affordable price tag. They always make their knives with quality in mind, and that’s precisely how this complete knife block set was made. It is, in our opinion, the best kitchen knife set under $300 you can buy!
This is a complete, full knife set that gets you all the knives you’ll ever need in your kitchen. It includes 18 knives that are of superb quality. The knives you in this set get are:
- 4-inch Paring Knife
- 4-inch Serrated Paring Knife
- 4.5-inch Serrated Utility Knife
- 5-inch Utility/Prep Knife
- 6-inch Flexible Boning Knife
- 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
- 8-inch Chef’s Knife
- 8.25-inch Bread Knife
- 10-inch Sharpening Steel
- 10.25-inch Hollow Edge Slicing Knife
- Six 4.5-inch Serrated Steak Knives
- 17-slot Wood Knife Block
- Kitchen Shears
As you can see, there is a lot of knives in this set. There is a knife for just about any kitchen application you can imagine!
The blades of the knives are made of high-grade carbon steel that holds its edge magnificently. The sharpness of all the knives is great, and they will all go through whatever comes your way like butter. Every knife in the set comes razor sharp out of the box so that you can start chopping, slicing, and dicing right away!
The handles of all the knives are very well made. They are plastic handles that are easy to grip and won’t slip even when your hands are oily and wet.
All of the handles are excellently balanced with the blades in terms of weight. Handling the knives feels effortless because of that.
Apart from the excellent standard knives you get in this set, we really like that Victorinox has included 10-inch honing steel. It will help you maintain the knives and keep them performing great for a long time.
It’s important to note that this is not sharpening steel and that you should get a wet stone or get the knife sharpened by a professional for that. Honing steel is great for straightening the edge and will keep your edge in the right shape. You can read more about knife sharpening here.
The 17-slot wooden knife block looks very contemporary and has enough room for all the knives in the set. It’s perfectly sized to fit all the knives while not taking too much of your countertop space.
All of the knives in this set are Swiss-made and come with a lifetime warranty from Victorinox. They are truly an outstanding company that knows how to make high-grade, durable knives. If you want the best kitchen knife set for under 300, look no further, this one will give you everything you need!
J.A. Henckels International 19-piece Knife Set
This is another excellent knife set that gets you all the cutlery you’ll ever need for your kitchen. It’s a close second to the Victorinox knife set since the knives are of slightly less quality than the Swiss knives. Still, they are slightly less expensive as well, so that’s to be expected.
You get even 1 part more with this set than with the Victorinox set. This set provides you with a knife for any kitchen application, from butchering to dicing carrots. The parts included with this set are:
- 3-inch Paring Knife
- 3-inch Hollow Edge Paring Knife
- 5-inch Serrated Utility Knife
- 5.5-inch Boning Knife
- 6-inch Utility Knife
- 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
- 8-inch Bread Knife
- 8-inch Chef’s Knife
- Eight 4.5-inch Serrated Steak Knives
- 9-inch Honing Steel
- Kitchen Shears
- 18-slot Knife Block
Again, a lot of versatility here, just like with the Victorinox set.
The blades are made of forged German stainless steel. Most of the cheaper knife sets that offer this many different parts have lower quality stamped steel. The fact that the blades are made of forged steel means that they are much more resistant, durable, and heavier in weight than the stamped steel budget blades.
The sharpness is excellent, perhaps not as Victorinox knives but definitely very close. The knives are sharp enough for any kitchen task, no matter the size. For example, the 5.5-inch boning knife is ideal for cutting through large parts of meat and bone. It’s a really sharp and sturdy breaking knife.
The handles of the knives are superb. They are probably the best handles that we’ve found on an under $300 knife set.
They are full-tang, which means that the blade extends all the way to the bottom of the handle or the butt of the knife. These knives are more durable and have more weight and balance to them than the partial or no tang knives.
The grip is excellent, and no slippage occurs when working with wet hands. The handle feels great in hand, and the ergonomic design prevents fatigue when working with the knives for extended periods.
One thing that some people don’t prefer is the fact that these knives are made in China. While there are bad and cheap mass-produced products from China, not all are cheaply made.
These knives are slightly less sharp and maybe won’t hold their edge as long as Victorinox but are better than many German knives in the same price range we reviewed. They are one of the best knives in terms of quality we reviewed, and the fact that they are manufactured in China won’t change that!
Cangshan S1 Series 1022575 German Steel Forged 8-Piece Knife Block Set
The Cangshan S1 series knives are one of our favorite knife sets on the market. They are hand-forged by experienced blacksmiths and offer an unmatched blade quality in this price range.
The fact that this is an 8 piece knife set might deter some people. While it isn’t a full set, it will provide you with knives that perform like no others and are by far the most durable in this price range. It is a good set to start with, and you can, later on, expand your cutlery inventory.
This beautiful set includes:
- 8-inch chef’s knife
- 8-inch bread knife
- 7-inch santoku knife
- 5-inch serrated utility knife
- 3.5-inch paring knife
- 8-inch honing steel
- 9-inch all-metal detachable shears
- Walnut knife block
As you can see, this knife set contains all of the most-used knives in the kitchen. You might not have the versatility of the larger sets, but there is something that this set does better than any other.
It’s the quality of each knife that is way above any other knife in this price range. The blades of the knives are outstanding as they are hand-crafted by professional bladesmiths.
They are made of high-grade German stainless steel that is very high in chromium, making its corrosion resistance exceptional. They have high tensile strength and retention making them very resistant and durable.
The sharpness of the knives in the set is by far the best in this price range. The knives come dangerously sharp out of the box thanks to the hand sharpening of an expert bladesmith. You can start working with these knives and not sharpen them for years. They will hold their edge excellently!
The handles of the knives are of the same quality as the blades. They are designed with ergonomics in mind and feel great in hand. The grip is excellent, and the knife stays in hand no matter how dirty or wet your hands might be.
The handles are perfectly balanced with the blades and the whole knife has quite a bit of weight to it, which is always nice for better control.
We absolutely love the design of this knife set. It is one of the sleekest-looking knife sets that we’ve seen. If you’re searching for a knife set to gift to someone, this would be the one to go for. The contemporary-looking white handles paired with a beautiful walnut block will make any countertop stand out!
imarku 16-Piece Professional Kitchen Knife Set with Block
Imarku is a german knife manufacturer that’s making knives for 3 centuries now. They offer excellent knives for home cooks, and this knife set is one of their best products. It’s a great choice if you want a solid all-around set for under $300.
Like the Victorinox and Henckels, this is a complete kitchen knife set that gives you all the cutlery you need to tackle any kind of job. The parts that are include in the set are:
- 8-inch Chef Knife
- 8-inch Slicing Knife
- 8-inch Bread Knife
- 7-inch Santoku Knife
- 6-inch Chef Knife
- 5-inch Utility Knife
- 3-inch Paring Knife
- Kitchen Scissors
- Honing Steel
- Six 5-inch Steak Knives
A lot of knives indeed, this is a complete set that doesn’t require getting any additional knives.
This set is a bit cheaper than the other sets we reviewed but offers exceptional quality for the price. The main advantage of this set its stylishness and the handles.
We absolutely adore the handles of these knives. They are made out of Pakkawood, which is one of our favorite handle materials. This is a synthetic material that is made of thin pieces of hardwood mixed with epoxy or resin. This type of material is much denser and water-resistant than natural wood.
Apart from increased longevity, this type of handle offers great grip and is super comfortable to hold for long periods. The handles are also full tang, adding to their longevity.
A cherry on top is the sleek look of these handles that make you fall in love with them!
While the handles might steal all of your attention, the blades of the knives are not bad either. They are made of solid high carbon steel that holds its edge very well. The performance of the blades is good, and the sharpness is solid, but definitely not like the Victorinox and Cangshan models.
Although not the sharpest, these knives are great for home cooking. They are sufficient for all of the kitchen tasks at home.
The knife block is very stylish and goes well with the design of the handles of the knives. We feel that this set would make a perfect gift for its contemporary looks.
HENCKELS J.A International Graphite 20-pc Self-Sharpening Block Set
Here is another Henckels set on our list. This company makes great cutlery at affordable prices, and it’s no surprise we’ve included a second model of theirs in our list. This one has a few special features that make it stand out from the rest of the under $300 knife sets.
The first unique feature of this set is that it has the most parts of all the reviewed models. It is the only 20 part knife set that met our strict standards to get to our list.
There is a knife for everyone in this set, and there is no task that you cannot do if you get this unique knife set. The 20 parts included in this set are:
- 3-inch Paring knife
- 4-inch Paring knife
- 5-inch Serrated Utility knife
- 5. 5-inch Prep knife
- 6-inch Utility knife
- 5. 5-inch Boning knife
- 7-inch Santoku knife
- 8-inch Bread knife
- 8inch Carving knife
- 8-inch Chef’s knife
- Eight 4. 5″ Steak knives
- Kitchen shears
- Self-sharpening knife block
Wow, a lot of really useful stuff here. This set provides the biggest versatility of all of the sets we reviewed.
The blades of the knives in this set are made of very sharp stainless steel. The knives are sufficient for cutting through the most stubborn foods like meat with bones and butternut squash. The one thing we don’t like on these knives and that puts them in a lower position on our list is the low rust resistance.
They tend to rust quicker than the other models on our list. This can be prevented by only hand cleaning and drying your knives properly after use. Oiling the knives with the best knife lube will help as well.
The other unique feature we mentioned earlier is the self-sharpening block. This is a very convenient feature that will keep the knife’s edge and won’t require frequent honing and sharpening of the knives.
The self-sharpening knife block has ceramic sharpeners that are positioned at just the right angle to perfectly shapen your knives each time you pull them out and put them back into the knife block. The knives won’t suffer reduced performance over time like the other models.
Lastly, let’s look at the handles of these knives. They are full tang which is what we want. They have excellent grip and won’t slip from wet and oily hands. The balance of the handle and the blade is on point, which makes handling the knives super easy.
All in all, this set a great choice if you’re looking for a self-sharpening set under $300. The blades have a flaw in terms of rust resistance but can be preserved with proper care. While this might draw some people back from picking this set, we feel that it is a unique set that has much more pros than cons.
Cutluxe 8-Piece Knife Block Set
The last set on our best kitchen knife set under $300 list is the Cutluxe 8-piece knife set. It’s a small high-grade set that is an excellent choice for both professional chefs and home cookers.
While it can’t match the Henckels 20-part self-sharpening set in terms of quantity, this set does provide the knives that are mostly used in the kitchen and that you will find yourself using more frequently even in the larger sets. The 8 pieces that are included in the set are:
- 10-inch Bread Knife
- 9-inch Carving Knife
- 8-inch Chef Knife
- 7-inch Santoku Knife
- 5-inch Serrated Utility Knife
- 5-inch Utility Knife
- 3.5-inch Paring Knife
- 8-inch Honing Steel
- Wood Knife Block
The sharpness of the knives is extraordinary, and they hold their edge very well. AS they come sharp out of the box, you can find yourself working for months before you even need to sharpen them!
The blades are hand sharpened to a 14 to 16-degree angle, which gives you the perfect cutting edge that will last a long, long time!
The blades are made of quality German carbon steel and have excellent rust and corrosion resistance.
We like the honing steel that you get in this set since it’s usually not included in sets as small as this one. It will help you maintain your knives better, and can reduce the need for sharpening to only once in 2 years!
The handles of these knives are of the highest quality. They are made of already mentioned Pakkawood that is denser and offers more water resistance than the normal wood. These handles offer phenomenal grip and won’t slip when you handle them with wet hands.
The balance of the handle and the blade is perfect. The weight of the knife and the ideal balance make these knifes extremely easy and enjoyable to handle.
One thing that we love about the Cytluxe company is their true lifetime warranty and exceptional customer support. There have been a number of cases where customers got their replacements for damaged knives that tend to happen from time to time to any manufacturer.
They replace their product promptly and with no questions asked. They are an example of how a serious company should look like. Because of that, this set is a risk-free purchase. Try it, and you won’t be sorry!
Kitchen Knife Set Under $300 – Guide
In this part of the article, we will look at the features that you should pay attention to when choosing a knife set for under $300.
Number Of Knives
The most obvious one is the number of knives and the number of different types of knives you get in each set.
It figures to go for a set that has a larger quantity of knives, but another important thing to look for is how many different types of knives are there in the set.
The essential knives that any knife set, and especially the $300 set, should have are a bread knife, carving knife, chef knife, santoku knife, serrated and standard utility knife, paring knife, butchers knife, and boning or breaking knife.
These are the types of knives you should look for in a under $300 knife set since you’ll do most of your work with those knives.
Remember, more knives don’t necessarily mean more versatility. Always look for the essential types of knives first and then for the extras.
Blade
The first thing you should look at after you’ve examined the number and different types of knives are the blades.
Perhaps the first step should be determining whether or not are the forged. Forged blades are almost always a better option for knife sets since they are sturdier, heavier, and more durable.
If you, on the other hand, get a knife set with stamped knives, they will be thinner, weaker, lighter, and will probably last shorter.
Stamped knives are largely used for cheaper knife sets that you can get for $50, and they have no place in under $300 knife sets.
After you’ve made sure that the knives are forged, you should look at the material of the blades.
Specifically, look at the type of steel used and research its hardness, corrosion resistance, and durability.
A good way to do this is to visit the knifeuser.com website. They have a wealth of information about tons of different types of steel. Make sure to get the knives that have blades made of mid to high-range steel.
Handle
After the blade, we have the handle. It’s arguably as important as the blade, and that’s why you should pay special attention to it when choosing an under $300 knife set.
The handles come in a wide variety of materials, but the most common ones are plastic, rubber, and wooden handles. Any of these will do, but our favorite is the Pakkawood handle.
It is almost always very stylish and makes the whole set stand out from the boring plastic handle sets.
It’s actually more durable than most of the other handle types since it’s made of small pieces of hardwood and resin. That gives it increased durability and excellent water resistance.
Grip, ergonomics, and slippage are always the things to look for. You want a handle that stays in hand but is comfortable to hold for a long time.
Another important handle factor is the balance in terms of weight. A perfectly balanced knife should be able to rest on top of your finger at a 180 angle when held at the bolster.
If your knives are balanced correctly, they will be much easier to use, and you’ll have better control over them.
The last thing to look for in a handle is whether or not is it a full tang. A full tang knife is a knife forged from one piece of steel that goes all the way to the butt of the handle. These handles are more durable and make the knife easier to control.
Warranty
Since knife sets can contain more than 20 parts, it shouldn’t surprise you if some of them end up having a defect or starts malfunctioning after a short time.
Because of that, it is wise to look for sets that come with a lifetime warranty. Look at the previous reviews that talk about customer support.
See if they’ve had any problems or issues getting a replacement. A serious company that stands behind its product should always have top-notch customer support.
Wrap Up
That about wraps it up when it comes to best knife sets for under $300.
Make sure to get a knife set that has a lot of different knife types but doesn’t sacrifice quality.
Any of the models we reviewed are like that and are all excellent choices. You can’t go wrong with any of them!
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